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Promoting branching of a potential biofuel crop Jatropha curcas L. by foliar application of plant growth regulators

Plant Growth Regulation volume 58, pages 287–295 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) has the potential to become a key biofuel crop. Manual pruning (MP) is one of the major management practices in commercial plantations of this crop, resulting in production of more branches and thus increased potential for more inflorescences leading to a higher seed yield. However, this method is time-consuming, labour-intensive and expensive. This study was conducted to determine the potential of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) to increase the number of lateral branches of J. curcas. A single foliar application of N 6-benzyladenine (BA) at 12 mM significantly increased branches in both the pot (4.0) and field (13.2) trials compared to MP (1.8 and 5.7, respectively) and control (no new branches) plants. In the field, a single foliar application of 1.0 mM 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) resulted in a significant increment in the number of branches (15.9) after 7 months. Of all the PGRs examined, 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-l-gluconic acid (dikegulac; DK) at 2.0 mM produced the maximum number of branches (18.0) in the field 7 months after application. Concentrations of 2.0 and 3.0 mM of 1,2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione (maleic hydrazide; MH) significantly increased the number of branches, 4 and 7 months after spraying in both the pot trial in the shade house and field, respectively. Under field conditions, J. curcas plants responded better to all the PGRs (DK < TIBA < BA < MH) when treated once, with insignificant variations in other growth parameters. This study indicates that a single foliar application of PGRs under field conditions can be an alternative method to MP for increasing the number of lateral branches of J. curcas.

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Abbreviations

BA:

N 6-benzyladenine

Ck:

Cytokinin

DK:

Dikegulac (2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-l-gulonic acid)

MH:

Maleic hydrazide (1,2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione, coline salt)

MP:

Manual pruning

PGR:

Plant growth regulator

TIBA:

2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid

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Acknowledgments

We thank Verus Farming Ltd, South Africa and the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg for financial support. Professor Colin Everson generously made available the plants used in the field trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Hafiz A. Abdelgadir & Johannes Van Staden

  2. School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Steven D. Johnson

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  1. Hafiz A. Abdelgadir
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  2. Steven D. Johnson
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  3. Johannes Van Staden
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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Abdelgadir, H.A., Johnson, S.D. & Van Staden, J. Promoting branching of a potential biofuel crop Jatropha curcas L. by foliar application of plant growth regulators. Plant Growth Regul 58, 287–295 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-009-9377-9

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Keywords

  • Chemical pruning
  • Dikegulac
  • Jatropha
  • Lateral branching
  • Maleic hydrazide
  • Manual pruning
  • TIBA